This is a curious little fact that you may have ignored
Maybe you know but the sparrow is a symbol of all that Zenitsu has the potential to become in Kimetsu no Yaiba (Demon Slayer), not only as a demon hunter but as a complex person. But why? The answer lies in ancient Japanese folklore.
Upon surviving the selection event, would-be demon hunters are given a uniform and allowed to choose the ore for their swords, plus they are given a very talented companion: a bird that will serve as a messenger, informing them of your next missions. However, among all the birds there is one different from the rest: Chuntaro the sparrow, who serves as a messenger bird for Agatsuma Zenitsu.
We know that the use of the messenger crow is well known in Japanese mythology. According to a certain legend, the goddess Amaterasu sent a three-legged raven from the heavens to the hero Jimmu. The three legs represent characteristics of the gods: wisdom, kindness and courage. This raven, the Yatagarasu, flew to Jimmu and told him where to go to battle in order to be victorious. At anime from Kimetsu no Yaiba (Demon Slayer), the use of these animals is designed so that, like Yatagarasu, the demon slayers know where they have to go to fight. Additionally, the raven in general is also meant to be a symbol of protection (not to mention having a stellar sense of direction).
The sparrow, unlike the raven, has a less auspicious legacy, but that’s exactly why Zenitsu and Chuntaro are perfect for each other, since this young man does not represent the hero that the raven must guideInstead, that is something that is in their possible futures. He is portrayed as a character who needed to be saved all the time, so he is not necessarily strong, wise, or skilled. However, he is a kind person, which he demonstrates by protecting Nezuko from Inosuke Hashibara when the two first meet, using his own body to keep the boar’s head from harming him.
However, he often hides behind those weaker than himself and rants about the danger they are in. He is certainly not brave. However, a Japanese folk tale called “The Tale of the Tongue-Cut Sparrow” reveals why the sparrow was chosen as a suitable mate for Zenitsu as he matured.
The legend that inspired the Zenitsu sparrow in Kimetsu no Yaiba (Demon Slayer)
The story of the tongue-tied sparrow centers on an old woodcutter and his greedy wife. One day, the woodcutter finds an injured sparrow and feeds it rice, much to his wife’s dismay (and very appropriate given the way Zenitsu feeds Chuntaro in Kimetsu no Yaiba (Demon Slayer)). One day when the husband is away, the sparrow eats some starch when the wife doesn’t feed it, so she cuts out its tongue and throws it out of the house.
When the husband returns, he immediately goes out to look for the sparrow and finds it together with a whole nest of them. The sparrows offer the woodcutter two chests, one large and one small. Being humble and aware of his physical limitations, the woodcutter takes the small chest home, only to discover that it is full of treasure.. His wife immediately runs off to find the sparrows and takes the large chest. Impatient to be home, she opens the chest as she walks and discovers that it is full of snakes and other horrors, causing her to startle and fall off a cliff.
Although the story has several morals, the most pertinent to Kimetsu no Yaiba (Demon Slayer) is that Zenitsu is the treasure chest. Zenitsu lacks faith in his abilities, metaphorically choosing the small chest for himself.. However, even though she has only mastered one form of Lightning Breath, she is powerful enough to defeat fairly powerful demons. Also, as we mentioned before, her kindness is a trait that comes out as she grows in confidence and is especially shown in the way she stands up for boys and demands that the demon Daki apologize for hurting a girl. .
Otherwise, Zenitsu could be seen as the small chest itself, something that no one but his master saw potential in but found treasure within. The sparrow itself is also a symbol of community, kindness, and good luck, and Chuntaro’s willingness to stay as a faithful companion may be just what Zenitsu needs as a reminder that he now has support on his journey. While seeing him in Kimetsu no Yaiba (Demon Slayer) being stalked by a little sparrow certainly lends lightness to a series that can get pretty dark., Zenitsu and Chuntaro are paired up for much more than just comic relief. Chuntaro is a symbol of what Zenitsu believes he is and what he has the potential to become, and that promises great things for this character.
Related topics: demon slayer
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